Typewriting machine



Dec. 22, 1925. 4 1,566,440

' J. -A. B. SMITH TYPEWRITING MACHINE 7 Filed Feb. '1, 1923 l/n/mfarx AM v @/M@%% Aft/47W Patented Dec. 22, 1925.

UNITED STA TES PATENT oFFrcE.

JESSE A: B. SMITH, OF STAMFORD, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR TO UNDERWOOD TYPE-WRITER COMPANY, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE.

TYPEWRITING MACHINE,

Application filed February 1, 1923. Serial No. 616,280.

ing Machines, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to collating devices for typewritifig machines,and is in the nature of an improvement on my co-pending application,Serial No. 596,323, filed October 23, 1922.

In said co-pending-application, disclosure is made of a fan-fold machinehaving at the delivering side of the platen a collating table with aflat central portion tangential to the platen, and raised supports orsecondary tables at each side of said fiat portion, a clamp beingprovided iii connection with each .of said supports to engage the edgeof a work-web placed thereon to hold the latter against movement. Thecollating devices, just referred to, are designed for use in connectionwith typing items on bill-forms of continuous webs extending around theplat- Z en and overlying the supports at the sides of the collatingtable, and inmaking copies of the items at greater spaces apart onsections of a sectional order-sheet passing around the platen betweenthe latter and the webs of bill-forms and supported bythe flat centralportion of the collating table. In using the collating devices, the websof bill-forms are adjusted for typing the first item on one of thebill-forms, and'the sectional order-sheet, one of which isused for eachbill-form, is positioned with its, first section in proper relation tothe printing line. The collating table may be swung upwardly to asufiicient extent to permit such adjustment. Upon typing the first itemon the bill-form and making a copy on the first section of the sectionalorder-sheet, the platen may be line-spaced to position the billform forthe next entry thereon. The edges of the webs are then clamped againstthe supports to hold the webs against movement, and, after displacingthe platen to release the sectional order-sheet from the grip of theplaten and feed-rolls, the sectional order-sheet may be drawn forwardlyto position the next section thereof at the printing line, the platenthen being restored to normal position and the next entry made on ashaft behind said table. the feed-roll shaft at the rear of the table ison the bill; the operation just described being repeated until thetyping of the items on the bill and the corresponding sections of thesectional order-sheet is completed. 7

An object of the present invention is to provide improved means forcarrying out work of the class described.

The claims in this case are limited to features not disclosed in saidapplication.

According to thepresent invention, the

feed-rolls near the central part of the platen may be omitted, the edgesof the webs of bill-forms being held by feed-rolls spaced apartsufliciently to permit the passage therebetween of the sectionalorder-sheet, thus permitting the sectional order-sheet to be shiftedrelatively to the platen and the webs of bill-forms, without releasingthe webs from the platen.

Inasmuch as the edges of the webs are held against the platen during theshifting of thesectional order-sheet, the clamps of said co-pendingapplication, for-holding the webs against movement during the shiftingof the sectional order-sheet, may be omitted.

Provision may also be made of means for feeding the sectionalorder-sheet relatively to the webs of bill-forms. Such means may consistof a pair of feedrolls ateach side of the central portion of thecollating table over which the sectional order-sheet passes, onefeed-roll of each pair normally engaging the sectional order-sheet onone face and the other engaging the opposite face. The

upper feed-rolls of the two pairs may be mounted on a shaft journaled atthe opposite sides of the collating table, and the lower -feed-rolls,which normally project upwardly through openings in the flat centralportion of the table, may be mounted Preferably,

journaled in arms fixed on a controlling shaft which is spring-pressedto urge the lower feed-rolls against the upper feed-rolls.

Provision may also be made of a manuallyoperable member to rotate one ofsaid feedroll shafts, and ofanother manually operable member to rotatesaid controlling shaft to release from said feed-rolls a sectionalorder-sheet extending over the-flat central portion of the collatingtable.

Other features and advantages will'hereinafter appear. v In theaccompanying drawings,

Figure 1 is a side elevation, partly in section, illustrating theinvention ,as applied to so much of a fan-fold machine as is necessaryfor the purpose of illustration.

Figure 2 is a front elevation of the mechanism shown in Figure 1, partsbeing broken away to show the underlying structure.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary view looking downwardly at the upper edge ofthe collating table, showing the left side of the collating table andthe feed-rolls associated therewith. v

Figure 4 is a view showing the sectional order-sheet, and the webs ofbill-forms.

A platen 10 is fixed on an axle 11 journaled in the ends 12 of aplaten-displacing frame 13, said ends 12 being mounted for swingingmovement on a shaft 14 journaled in the ends 15 of a platen-frame 16which comprises a rear paper-table 17. The platen-frame 16 forms part ofa carriage 18 which comprises a cross-bar 19 at the rear of the rearpaper-table 17.

At the rear of the carriage 18 is a fanfold extension 20 comprisingforwardly and rearwardly extending rods 21 connected by cross-bars 22and 23 at the front and rear, respectively. The extension 20 issupported at its forward end by means of brackets 24 fixed on arearwardly-extending flange 25 of the cross-bar 19, and is supported atits rear by any suitable means, not shown. Mounted for forward andrearward recipro cation on the extension .20 is a carbon-carrier 26comprising a base-plate 27 having pivoted thereto at its lower sidegrooved rolls 28 engaging the edges of flat rails 29, each attached toone of the rods or bars 21. The carbon-carrier 26 comprises steppedblocks 30 for supporting carbon-blades or holders 31 extendingalternately from opposite sides of the carbon-carrier and a handle 26'for use in moving the carbon-carrier to the rear.

As herein disclosed, continuous webs 32 of bill-forms pass over aguide-bar 33 at the rear of the extension 20 and between guides 34mounted on said bar 33, and, after passing between side gages 35 at therear of the carbon-carrier, are passed on opposite sides of thecarbon-holder 31 on the lowest step of the carbon-carrier, so as to havea corresponding carbon-sheet 35 interleaved therebetween. 'The webs 32extend over a guide-rod 36 and between side guides 37 thereon to 'theupper edge of the rear papertable 17, from which they pass downwardlyand around the platen to the delivery side thereof.

A sectional order-sheet or web 38, of less width than the webs 32, isalso inserted at the rear of the machinebetween the webs 32 and theplaten 10. To guide the sectional order-sheet 38 properly at the rear ofthe platen, provision is made of side guides 39 that the side guides 43insure proper positioning of the sectional order-sheet 38 at the rearedge of the rear paper-table 17.

At the delivery side of the platen, the Webs 32 and the sectionalorder-sheet 38 extend upwardly and rearwardly over a crossbar or member45 joining the two ends 12 of the platen-displacing frame 13. When theplaten-displacing frame 13 is in its normal position,downwardly-extending arms 46 forming part of the ends 12 rest on atransverse shaft .47 on which are fixed hooks or catches 48 normallyengaging over studs 49 to lock the platen-displacing frame 13 in itsnormal position, one of the catches 48 being provided with afinger-piece or handle 50 which may be used to release theplatendisplacing frame by turning the shaft 47 against the action of aspring, not shown.

Near each end of the platen-displacing frame 13 is a broad pinion 51fixed on the shaft 14 and meshing with a gear 52 on the adjacent end ofthe platen-shaft and with a gear 53 fixed on the inner end of a shaft54, journaled in the adjacent end 15 of the platen-frame 16, andprovided at its outer end with a finger-wheel 55. The platen 10 may beturned by one of the finger-wheels 55 or by means of line-spacingmechanism including a lever 56 mounted to swing about a pivot 57 on thecarriage 18, a slide 58 actuable by said lever 56 and a ratchet-wheel59. When the platen is in its normal osition to co-operate with frontand rear eedrolls 60 and 61, respectively, the platen-axle 11 is inalignment with the shafts 54. It will be seen that the connectionsbetween the finger-wheels 55 and the platen will be maintained when thelatter is swung up wardly and forwardly from its normal position.

To facilitate the .shiftin of the sectional order-sheet 38 independe tlyof the plies of webs 32, provision is made of a collating table 62adjustably mounted on the crossbar or member 45 by means of screws 63edges of the webs 32. Preferably, the collating table 62 is formed bybending a sheetmetal plate upwardly at the edges of the centralportion65 to form side-edge gages 67 therefor and bending the plate outwardlyat the upper edges of said gages 67 to form the secondary tables 66, theedges of the plate being. bent upwardly to form sideedgegages 68 at theouter edges of the sec ondary tables.

The secondarytables 66 do not extend to the lower edge of the centralportion, and

may be provided. with inclined guides 69 to direct the outer edges ofthe webs 32 upwardly to said secondary. tables. The mechanism, so fardescribed, is, in general, similar to the corresponding mechanismdisclosed in said co-pending application.

The invention is illustrated in connection with webs 32 of bill-formsand sectional order-sheets 38, as indicated in Figure 4. For a furtherdisclosure of the webs 32 and the order-sheets 38, reference is made toapplicants prior application, Serial No. 586,064, filed September 5,1922.

As herein disclosed, the feed-rolls 6'0 and 61 are spaced so as toengage the edges'of the webs 32 outside of the edges of the sectionalorder-sheet 38, no feed-rolls being provided along the field of theplaten used for the sectional order-sheet 38? It has been found that bythis arrangement it is possible to draw forward the sectional order-'sheet 38 with reference to the webs 32 without separation of the platenand the feedrolls 60 and 61.

In carrying out the invention, provision has been made of feeding meansto advance the order-sheet -38 relatively to the webs 32, while theorder-sheet is resting on the central portion of the'collating table 62.The feeding means comprises feed-rolls to engage the upper face of thesectional order-sheet 38, near its edges, andopposed feed-rolls 71acting through openings 71 in said central portion 65. 7 0 are mountedon a shaft 72 supported in the side-edge gages 67, and the rolls 71'aremounted on a shaft 73supported in the forward ends of arms 74 fixed on ashaft 75 journaled in blocks 76 secured to the central portion 65 of thecollating table 62 at the rear. Manual control of the position of thefeed-rolls 71 is efiected by means of a handle 77 fixed on one end ofthe shaft 75, and the shaft is normally urged in a direction to pressthe feed-rolls 71 against the feed-rolls 70 by means of a spring'i78acting on the handle 77 atone end and connected at the other end withthe collating table. The feed-rolls 70 and 71 are actuated, whendesired, by means of a finger-wheel 73 fixed on the shaft 73.

In practice, the webs 32 and the sectional order-sheet 38 are insertedfrom the rear while the platen is displaced, and, after gaging the webs32 by the edge of the usual knife 7 9 and tlie sheet 38 by means of amark 80 on the rear face thereof, as disclosed in said co-pendingapplication No.

The feed rolls 596,323, the platen is restored to its normal position.After typing the heading on the first bill-form 81 and on the sectionalordersheet 38, the webs 32 and sheet 38 .are advanced by the platen toposition for the typing of the first entry on the bill-form and on thefirst section 82 of the sectional order-sheet 38. Upon the completion ofthe typing of this item, the platen is linespaced to advance the webs 32and the sheet 38 to position for typing the next item on the first form81, the sheet 38 then being drawn forward with reference to the webs 32to bring the second section 82 into positionto receive a copy of thesecond item typed on the first form 81. This operation is repeated untiltyping on the first bill and order-sheet is completed. The filledorder-sheet is then withdrawn from the machine, and the used form 81 issevered by means of the knife 79. When the orders'heet 38 is advanced toa suflicient extent,

the handle 77 is drawn forward temporarily,

and the leading edge of the order-sheet 38 inserted between the rolls 70and 71, and shifting of the sectional order-sheet 38 with reference tothe webs 32 is effected by means of the finger-wheel 55. When thesectional order-sheet 38 is completely used, it may be run out of themachine byturning the finger-wheel 73", or simply by drawing itforwardly out of the machine, the rear rolls being withdrawn by means ofthe handle 77, if desired.

Variations may be resorted to within the scope of the invention, andportions of the improvements may be used without others.

Having thus described my invention, I claim: 2

1. In a continuous billing machine, a revoluble platen around whichcontinuous webs and interleaved carbon-sheets may be fed, feed-rolls torun on the bottom of the platen and spaced to engage the edges only ofthe webs, a carbon-carrier at the rear of the platen to Withdraw thecarbon-sheets from the used section of the webs, means to displace theplaten from the feed-rolls to permit withdrawal of the carbon-sheets,means at the rear of the platen for guiding a separate work-sheetbetween the webs and the platen and between the bottom feed-rolls, sothat it may be advanced relatively to the webs without displacing theplaten, a collating table at the delivery side of the platen to receivesaid separate sheet, and feeding means to engage the portion of theseparate sheet on said table to advance the separate sheet relativelyto-said webs.- 4 2. In a continuous billing machine, a revoluble platenaround which continuous webs and interleaved carbon-sheets may be fed,

feed-rolls to run on the bottom of the platen platen to withdraw thecarbon-sheets from the used section of the webs, means to displace theplaten from the feed-rolls to permit withdrawal of the carbon-sheets,means at the rear of the platen for guiding a separate work-sheetbetween the webs and the platen and between the bottom feed-rolls,

, so that it may be advanced relatively to the I webs.

3. In a continuous billing machine, a revoluble platen around whichcontinuouswebs and interleaved carbon-sheets may be fed, feed-rolls torun on the bottom of the platen and spaced to engage the edges only ofthe webs, a carbon-carrier at the rear of the platen to withdraw thecarbon-sheets from the used section of the webs, means to displacetheqplaten from the feed-rolls to permit withdrawal of thecarbon-sheets,means at the rear of the platen for guiding a separate work-sheetbetween the webs and the platen and between the bottom feedrolls, sothat it may be advanced relatively to the webs without displacing theplaten, a collating table at the delivery side of the platen comprisinga central portion to receive said separate sheet and raised sideportions to support the edges of said webs, and feeding means to engagethe portion of the separate sheet on the central portion of said tableto advance the separate sheet relatively to said webs, said feedingmeans comprising a front feed-roll positioned above said central portionto permit the separate work-sheet to be inserted between said frontfeed-roll and the central portion of the collating table, and afeed-roll at the back of the collating table engaging the frontfeed-roll through an opening in saidcentral portion.

4:. In a typewriting machine, in combination, a platen, a collatingtable at the delivery side thereof, means associated with said collatingtable for gripping and drawing forward a work-sheet extending from theplaten to said collatin table, and means associated with said ta le forguiding an outer work-sheet over said gripping and drawing means.

5. Ina typewriting machine, in combina tion, a platen, a collating tableat the delivery side thereof, means associated with said collating tablefor gripping and drawing forward a work-sheet extending from the platento said collating table, means associated with said table for guiding anouter work-sheet over said gripping and drawing means, and means fordetaining said outer work-sheet while the inner work-sheet is advancedby said guiding and drawing means.

6. In a typewriting machine, in combina-' tion, a platen, a collatingtable at the delivery side thereof, means associated with said collatingtable for gripping and drawing forward a work-sheet extending from theplaten to said collating table, means associated with said table toguide a wide worksheet over said gripping and drawing means, andfeed-rolls pressing the edges of the wide sheet against theplatenoutside of the edges of the first sheet, to detain the wide sheetwhile the first sheet is advanced with reference thereto.

7. In a typewriting machine, in combination, a platen, a collating tableat the delivery side of the platen having a central portion to receivean inner work-sheet and raised edge-portions to support the edges of awider outer sheet, and feeding means for the inner work-sheet,comprising front and rear feed-rolls to grip the portion of the innerwork-sheet on said central portion of the collating table. Y i

8. In a typewriting machine, in combination, a platen, and means fortyping items at intervals on an outer work-sheet and at greaterintervals on a narrow inner Worksheet, comprising feed-rolls to pressagainst the platen the edges of the outer work-sheet extending beyondthe edges of theinner work-sheet, and to detain the outer worksheetwhile permitting the inner work-sheet to be advanced.

9. In a typewriting machine, in combina tion, a platen, means for typingitems at intervals on an outer work-sheet and at greater intervals on anarrow inner work-sheet, comprising feed-rolls to press against theplaten the edges of the outer work-sheet extending beyond the edges ofthe inner worksheet, and to detain the outer work-sheet while permittingthe inner work-sheet to be advanced, and means to advance said innerwork-sheet .while the outer work-sheet is so detained.

10. In a typewriting machine, in combination, a platen, a collatingtable at the delivery side of the platen, a feed-roll spaced above saidcollating table to permit a worksheet to be passed between the roll andthe table, and a second feed-roll at the rear of the table to engage thefirst feed-roll through anopening. in the table.

11. In a typewriting machine, in combination, a platen,a collating tableat the do livery side of the platen, a feed-roll spaced above saidcollating table to permit a worksheet to be passed between the roll andthe table, and a second feed-roll at the rear of the table to engage thefirst feed-roll through an opening in the table, and movable to and froma position to press said work-sheet against the first feed-roll.

12. In a typewriting machine, in combination, a platen, a collatingtable at the delivery side of the platen, a feed-roll spaced above saidcollating table to permit a work sheet to be passed between the roll andthe table, a second feed-roll at the rear of the table to engage thefirst feed-roll through an opening in the table, and manual meanstoshift the rear feed-roll to ineffective position.

13, In a typewriting machine, in combination, a platen, a collatingtable at the delivery side of the platen, a feed-roll spaced above saidcollating table to permit a worksheet to be passed between the roll andthe table, a second feed-roll at the rear of the table to engage thefirst feed-roll through an opening in the table, manual means to shiftthe rear feed-roll to, ineffective position, and manual means to turnone of said feed-rolls.

14. In a front-strike typewriting machine, in combination, a cylindricalplaten, feedrolls to run on the bottom of the platen and spaced toengage the edges of a wide worksheet at each side of a narrow sheetbetween the wide sheet and the platen, and a collating device at thedelivery side of the platen, comprising manually-operable means foradvancing the narrow work-sheet with reference to the wide work-sheetwhile the latter is detained by the platen and the feedrolls associatedtherewith. c

15. In a front-strike typewriting machine, in combination, a cylindricalplaten, feed- .rolls to run on the bottom of the platen and spaced toengage the edges of a wide worksheet at each side of a narrow sheetbetween the wide sheet and the platen, and a collating device at thedelivery side of the platen,

. comprising manually-operable feed-rolls for gripping the narrowwork-sheet and advancing it with reference to the wide work-sheet whilethe latter is detained by the platen and the feed-rolls associatedtherewith.

16. In a front-strike typewriting machine, in combination, a cylindricalplaten, feedrolls to run on the bottom of the platen and spaced toengage the-edges of a wide work-sheet at each side of a narrow sheetbetween the wide sheet and the platen, a

collating table at the delivery side of the platen, comprising a centralportion to receive the narrow sheet and ralsed side portions to receivethe edges of the wide sheet, and means foradvancing the narrow sheetwith reference to the wide sheet while the latter is detained by theplaten and the feedrolls co-operating therewith, said advancing meanscomprising feed-rolls above and below said central portion, the centralportion being'cut away to permit engagement between the feed-rolls onthe opposite sides thereof.

and feed-rolls at the back of the table and mounted for movement throughsaid openings to engage the feed-rolls at the front of the table.

18. In a front-strike typewriting'machine, in combination, a platen,feed-rolls to run on the bottom of the platen and press against theedges of a Widework-sheet outside of the edges of a narrow work-sheetbetween the wide work-sheet and the platen, a collating table at thedelivery side of the platen provided with openings to be crossed by theedges of the narrow sheet, a shaft extending across said collatingtable, feedrolls on said shaft opposite said openings, feed-rolls at theback of the collating table opposite the front feed-rolls, means urgingthe lower feed-rolls against the front feedrolls, and manually-operablemeans to retract the back feed-rolls preparatory to inserting orwithdrawing the narrow work sheet. I

19. In a front-strike typewriting machine, in combination, a platen,feed-rolls to run on the bottom of the platen and press against theedges of a wide work-sheet outside of the edges of a narrow work-sheet 1a second shaft on which the back feed-rolls i are mounted, arms in whichthe second shaft is mounted, a third shaft on which said arms are fixed,means urging the back feed-rolls toward the front feed-rolls, and ahandle on the third shaft for retracting the back feed-rolls.

20. In a front-strike typewriti ng machine, in combination, a platen,'feed-rolls to run on the bottom of the platen and press against theedges of a widework-sheet outside of the edges of a narrow work-sheetbetween the wide work-sheet and the platen, a collating table at thedelivery side of the platen provided with openings to be crossed by theedges of the narrow sheet, a shaft extending across said collatingtable, feed.- rolls on said shaft opposite said openings, feed-rolls atthe back of said collating table, a second shaft on which the backfeed-rolls are mounted, a'swingable frame in which said second shaft ismounted, means urging said frame to press the back feed-rolls againstthe front feed-rolls, and a handle to swing said frame against theaction of said urging means.

21. In a typewriting machine, a platen, nd collating means at thedelivery side of the platen, comprising a'primary table to receive anarrow worksheet from the platen, side gages fixed to said primary tableand projecting upwardly therefrom; a second table projecting outwardlyfrom the upper edges of said side gages to support the edges of an outerwide sheet fed from the platen,

a transverse shaft journaled in said side gages, feed-rolls on saidshaft opposite openings in the primary table, feed-rolls at the rear ofthe primary table to engage the front feed-rolls through said openings,

' and a shaft on which the rear feed-rolls are mounted, therear-feed-roll shaft being movable to shift the feed-rolls thereon toand from position to co-operate with the front feed-rolls.

22. In a typewriting machine, the combinationwith a laten, of a collatinchute at the delivery side thereof, a sheet-feeding couple feeding thework-sheet in said v trough, ,shelves to support an overlying sheetabove the feeding couple, and a knife or gage positioning said sheets ininitial collated relation. g

23. In a typewriting machine, the combination with a platen, of a frontpaperthe wide chute, means for line-feeding said condensed record-sheet,feed-rolls for gripping the sides of said record-sheet tohold it againstsaid platen while the narrow sheet is collated thereunder, a pair ofgripping rolls on said table for feeding said narrow sheet relatively tosaid record-sheet, and means at the introductory side of said latenplaten, of wide for side-edge guiding the narrow an wide 5 sheets.

JEssE A. B. SMITH.

